Singer-songwriter Lou Christie, whose distinctive falsetto voice propelled “Lightnin’ Strikes” to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966, died Wednesday at his home in Pittsburgh. He was 82.
Christie died after a brief illness, according to his wife Francesca. His family announced the news in a social media post, stating that he was “cherished not only by his family and close friends, but also by countless fans whose lives he touched with his kindness and generosity, artistic and musical talent, humor and spirit.”
Born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco on February 19, 1943, in Glenwillard, Pennsylvania, Christie rose to fame during the teen idol era of the early 1960s. At age 15, while attending Moon Area High School, he formed a creative partnership with Twyla Herbert, a classically trained pianist and songwriter who was 20 years his senior.
The collaboration with Herbert proved remarkably successful, as the duo wrote hundreds of songs together over the ensuing decades. Christie described Herbert as extraordinarily talented and original, crediting their unusual partnership for much of his creative output.
Christie’s breakthrough came in 1962 when he adopted his stage name, suggested by Pittsburgh music executive Nick Cenci. His first single under the new moniker, “The Gypsy Cried,” reached No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1963. This success was quickly followed by “Two Faces Have I,” which peaked at No. 6 three months later.
The pinnacle of Christie’s career arrived with “Lightnin’ Strikes,” co-written with Herbert and released on MGM Records in December 1965. The song featured Christie’s soaring falsetto and dramatic orchestral arrangement by Charles Calello, with backing vocals from Bernadette Carroll, Peggy Santiglia and Denise Ferri of The Delicates. The single reached No. 1 on February 19, 1966, coinciding with Christie’s 23rd birthday.
Christie followed up his chart-topper with “Rhapsody in the Rain” later in 1966, a song that generated controversy for its sexually suggestive lyrics about teenagers in an automobile during a rainstorm. The track included the line “our love went much too far,” which prompted several radio stations to ban the song. Despite the controversy, it reached No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. MGM Records later released a “cleaner” version with toned-down lyrics.
Christie’s early success earned him a coveted spot on Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars tours, where he performed alongside Diana Ross and the Supremes, Gene Pitney, Johnny Tillotson, the Crystals, the Ronettes, Fabian and Frankie Avalon. He completed 32 consecutive one-night performances, often sleeping on the tour bus between shows.
His career was temporarily interrupted when he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving for two years. Upon his return to music, Christie achieved another top 10 hit with “I’m Gonna Make You Mine” in 1969, which reached No. 10 in the United States and performed even better in the United Kingdom, peaking at No. 2.
Christie later explored country music, achieving success with “Beyond the Blue Horizon” in 1973, which rose to No. 12 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart. The song was later featured in the soundtrack of the film “Rain Man.” He recorded his final album in 2004 and continued performing on the oldies circuit for decades, touring with fellow 1960s performers as part of Dick Fox’s Golden Boys.
Throughout his career, Christie was recognized not only for his distinctive vocal style but also for his songwriting abilities. Unlike many performers of his era, he co-wrote nearly all of his hit songs, establishing himself as one of the decade’s first singer-songwriters.
Christie married Francesca Winfield, a former British beauty queen, in 1971. Christie reflected on his unique vocal abilities in a 2020 interview, explaining that “I had a high voice, I guess could sing when I was young in a high voice.”
Fellow performer Fabian Forte, who worked with Christie since 1958 and lives in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, expressed his grief over the loss. Forte indicated that Christie was one of the most talented and kindest individuals in the music industry, describing him as one of the all-time greats.
Christie is survived by his wife Francesca and their daughter Bianca. The family previously experienced tragedy in 2014 when their son Christopher died at age 46 in a motorcycle accident in Houston.
